I sigh, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep. It's just before dawn. I can see the pinkish light peaking through my window as the slight morning breeze ruffles my curtains. I always sleep with the window open if it isn't too cold. I hate feeling closed in.
It really is too early to start getting ready for school, but today's going to be my first day at McKinley High, so forgive me for being a little excited. Well, not excited for going to McKinley, but excited to see my friends again after a long summer apart.
I grab a plain white singlet and some denim shorts from my wardrobe. I'm not into the whole trying to stand out thing. Not that I can. At fourteen, I stand at 4'8. The side effect of being a gymnast, I'm told.
I grab my bag off my desk and head downstairs. Yes, I'm one of those organised freaks who have to pack the night before. I'd even packed my lunch – a ham roll and an apple. I never eat much, but seeing a punnet of blueberries in the fridge I can't resist taking that too. I know I'll get in trouble later but blueberries are worth it.
It's still early, but I feel like getting out of here. The parents are still asleep, they returned from their eight week summer vacation last night. They won't be getting up any time soon. I grab my keys and head out. I didn't slam the door. It was the wind.
I choose my skateboard over my bike this morning, less chance of it being stolen or trashed at school. Since it's early I decide to head over to my friend's house first. My best friend Heather-Leigh lives a few blocks from me. It's about a twenty minute ride via skateboard.
I'd missed her over the summer. I'd been staying with my Gran at her ranch while the parents were away. The Ranch was a five hour drive from Lima, where we both live.
I arrive at Heather-Leigh's and head up the front steps. Before I can ring the doorbell the door opens and I catch a glimpse of a familiar smiling face and flailing blonde/brown hair before I'm enveloped in a suffocating hug.
"Amber, Amber, Amber, AMBER!" Heather-Leigh chants as she burries her face in my neck. I smile at my friend's enthusiasm. She must have a sixth sense for my presence.
"Good to see you too, Hazel" I reply fondly.
I couldn't forget the day I first met Heather-Leigh. We were around ten years old when we both entered the Elite Aerial and Acrobatic School. Heather-Leigh and I were both to specialise in acrobatic gymnastics so we became training buddies. She had told me her name a few times but I could only remember that it started with an 'H' so I began to call her Hazel because of her beautiful hazel eyes. The name just stuck.
Heather-Leigh's hugs always seem to last an eternity and this one was no different. I think a full minute passed before she pulled back to get a better look at me. She's barely changed since the day I met her. She still has the same big hazel eyes and dark blonde/light brown hair that falls in neat ringlets on her shoulders. The same freckles dust her nose and cheeks, she has the same slight tan and still stands about one inch taller than me.
"Your hair's longer" she observes. I shrug. I hadn't bothered to cut my dark brown, almost perfectly straight hair this summer.
"Yours is prettier" I reply
"And you're tanned?" she raises her eyebrows. I'm notorious for not tanning no matter how much sun I'm exposed to.
"I'm not tanned," I argue, "I'm just less pale"
She smiles at my argument and doesn't bother contradicting me. Instead she drags me inside. She lets me greet Mrs Miller, her mother, as we pass the kitchen before I'm dragged away and up to her room. Once there she begins packing her school things and asks me about my summer.
"Lots of horses, lots of dogs," I reply, "and lots of watching old movies with Gran. Same old Ranch. How was yours?"
I can tell she's begging me to ask. "Awesome!" her eyes light up with excitement, "we saw Cirque du Soliel in Las Vegas! They were amazing! The rest of the summer I was just at gym camp"
Just at gym camp? I envy her so much right now. I wish I could have spent my entire summer with her instead. Call me crazy but I love gym camp. Training all day then crashing by a friend's pool, watching movies and sleeping over. My version of heaven.
Not to mention Cirque du Soleil. I'm in love with Cirque du Soleil.
"Sounds perfect," I tell her
"I wish you'd been here," she tells me. I just nod. "Come on," she's finished packing, "I know Alex is dying to see you!"
Soon we're both on our skateboards making our way to school. Yeah, we're total badass chicks, no helmets either.
I'm dying to see Alex too. He's my acrobatics partner. We're what's called a mixed pair in acrobatics. He lifts me in handstands and does all these amazing tricks while I balance on top of him. He also throws me in the air so I can do somersaults and twists before he catches me. He's awesome.
We're basically a better version of cheerleaders. A much, MUCH better version.
"Here we are." Heather-Leigh rolls to a stop in front of me.
Here we are indeed. McKinley High stands before us in all its decrepit glory.
"We must have been mad to walk away from EA-AS," I tell her,
She shrugs, "At least this way we can go to Worlds,"
I sigh, Worlds. The Acrobatic World Championships are being held in Florida, USA in 2012. The only problem with being in the Elite Aerial and Acrobatic School is that they are linked to the Lemons and Lima Circus, aka the lamest circus around. We're not allowed to compete at Worlds for fear of being scouted by bigger and better circus companies. So, we quit.
I don't bother reminding Heather-Leigh that they only take the top two pairs in the whole USA to compete at Worlds. Sometimes I wish I had her simplistic view on life.
I'm pulled out of my thoughts as a pair of strong, tanned arms wrap around me from behind. I recognise them immediately.
"ALEX!" I exclaim, resting my head against his shoulder as he pulls me in for a massive bear-hug. I wriggle around in his arms so I can face him. His light brown hair is windswept in every direction and his bright blue eyes are lit up with excitement as he grins at me.
"Missed you munchkin!" he tells me, ruffling my hair.
"Hey!" I protest, although I'm not sure if I'm protesting at the nickname or the hair ruffling.
"You've grown!" I accuse him, "Again!" I had been above his chin before the summer, now I stood comfortably under it.
He shrugs, "I'll be able to throw you higher!"
I suppose that's a good thing. The higher he can throw me, the better our chances of getting to Worlds. Weird huh?
Next to us Heather-Leigh was having a similar reunion with her partner, Trent. He must have arrived with Alex. Trent's also grown during the summer, but that's the only noticeable change. He still has the same mop of curly black hair and the same dark brown eyes that never stop sparkling with mischief.
"Heya Amber," he greets me, "Good summer?"
"Your's was better," I reply
He nods, "It was." That's the thing about Trent. He doesn't have a modest bone in his body.
Still, I found myself smiling at the familiarity of it all. My friends would make suffering through McKinley High worth it.